Healthy Recipes to Keep You Fit and Fabulous

I have always wanted to start a cooking blog, so here I am, finally doing it! I guess this is what life as a post-graduate college student is all about- doing the things you’ve always wanted to do.

For those who don’t already know me, here is a little bit about me:

I am 22-years-old, and I recently graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Communications. I changed my major so many times throughout college that it actually started to get funny- I went from a Vocal major, to Journalism, Radio-Television, Sociology, and finally, I decided to stick with Communications. Some people can’t figure out what they want to do because they don’t know what they like- my problem has always been that I like too many things! So, my new philosophy is why not do as much of the things I enjoy as I possibly can?

So, how did I start cooking in the first place? Well, as much as I hate to admit it, during my first semester of college I gained a whopping 20 pounds. My diet consisted of every fast-food imaginable, sometimes eating it up to four times a day! I was extremely inactive, spending most of my time ASLEEP. During my second semester, I didn’t actually set out to lose weight, but it ended up happening on its own, simply because I taught myself how to cook! I started watching the Food Network and fell in love with Rachael Ray. I decided to try one of her recipes that I watched, even though I had never attempted to make any kind of complete meal in my life. I’ll never forget it- it was a spinach and cheese “pasta bake”. It turned out perfectly! I was so amazed by how easy the meal came together, and how much fun I had making it, that I was immediately hooked on cooking. Slowly but surely, I began trying out new meals from the Food Network chefs, and I also added the gym to my daily routine. By the end of my Sophomore year, I had lost 20 pounds and found myself competing for the title of Miss Florida, with a large part of my pageant platform centering around my cookbook-in-the-making, entitled “Carly’s Cooking for College”.

I know that cooking can seem to be a daunting task for many people, but I am living proof that anyone can do it! I would love for this blog to be a stepping stone for first-time cooks, and a go-to place for people longing for easy, healthy meals to make for themselves, as well as friends and family.

I fully welcome any questions, comments or suggestions that you may have. I hope you enjoy my recipes!